dr-exmedic.com

As EMS types, it’s pretty easy to rail against system abusers:  people who call 911 for buttock abscesses, medication refills, or rashes–none of which need an ambulance.  In fact, to hear some people tell it, EMS responds to far more calls like that than calls which actually have a sick patient.

It’s always interesting to hear the other argument.  Previous studies have shown that ambulance patients were sicker than (i.e. had twice the admission rate of) non-ambulance patients, and now a new study shows that the ED docs ultimately treating ambualnce patients agree with their ambulance use in two-thirds of cases.

Of course, that’s just one mixed system in a smallish town in PA (Bethlehem), so their experience probably isn’t representative of, say, a more urban area.  However, I must admit that when I was working for a more urban ambulance service, I didn’t get the sheer volume of system abuse that I expected.  Maybe I’m just lucky. 

Filed under: EMS Research